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How risky is carotid artery surgery for my 58 yo father with an 84% carotid artery blockage?

Question:

My father age 58 years has recently been suffered from a stroke and according to MRI report; some infarction on left side of the brain has been found. Moreover, we have further probed the matter by echocardiography and carotid Doppler and other tests including diabetes, Cholesterol, etc.It has been found that heart is working fine. He has diabetes and high blood pressure sometimes. Further according to lipid profile, cholesterol level is bit above. However, as per carotid Doppler, his left carotid artery is about 84% block and neurologist referred the case to vascular surgeon who have proposed a surgery. Here in Pakistan, there are very short of vascular surgeon and people are not much aware of it. I am much afraid from this surgery and don't know how risky it is. I am here to inquire that, at 84% blockage of left carotid artery, what is the risk level now and how risky the surgery is? Should we move on towards surgery or not? Your kind advice is solicited in the matter please.

Answer:

Carotid artery surgery performed by vascular surgeons with experience is a very safe undertaking. The main risks of surgery involve both the possibility of a stroke during the operation or a cardiac event (like a heart attack) as a result of the effects of anesthesia. The risk of a stroke during the operation should be very low-in the range of less than 2%. I emphasize however that this is an operation that requires an experienced surgeon with a proven "track record". Inexperienced surgeons can have a stroke risk that is several times higher than the accepted risk of less than 2%.